Extrusion, Properties, and Failure of Spray-Formed Hypereutectic Al-Si Alloys Based on the Optimization of Fe-Bearing Phase

Abstract

Based on the densification of the spray-formed hypereutectic Al-Si (hyper-AS) alloys, the microstructural evolution, mechanical properties, as well as the failure are studied in this investigation. The appropriate process and parameters for the densification of the deposits are gained from the thermomechanical simulation. Besides of the spray-formed Al-25Si-5Fe-3Cu (3C) alloy, the microstructures of other spray-formed alloys with Mn/Cr addition are stable without coarsening of the refined α-Al(Fe,TM)Si (TM = Mn/Cr/(Mn+Cr)) particles, which can improve the heat resistance. Especially, a great number of the submicrosized α-Al(Fe,TM)Si phases are observed in the hot-extruded TM-containing alloys. The critical ranges of the major parameter TM/Fe mass ratios that can affect the formation of the α-Al(Fe,TM)Si phases in the cast or spray-formed hyper-AS alloys are severally determined. The structure and lattice constant of the refined α-Al(Fe,TM)Si phases also are characterized. The mechanical properties of the current extruded hyper-AS alloys at room or elevated temperatures are close to or higher than some commercial alloys or other published results. Therefore, the hyper-AS alloys can be proposed as new lightweight, heat-resistant, and high-strength alloys, which can be used in the complex working conditions, such as advanced engine systems. The main reason for the enhanced properties would be the formation of a large quantity of microsized/submicrosized α-Al(Fe,TM)Si phases and abundant dislocations, which can greatly reinforce the matrix and transform the brittle fracture of the needle-like Fe-bearing phases into ductile fracture.